4/23/08: "Dropping the Gloves" w/ Andrew Bogusch

There are currently too many hot topics around the NHL to focus on just one this week, so we unleash a string of random playoff-themed thoughts for your reading pleasure.

The referees working these games are in the playoffs because of a points system...that may need some tweaking. Too many harmless hooks and holds get called, while blatant slashes and interference (goalie or otherwise) go unnoticed. And Colin Campbell & Co. have not been much better at handing out postgame discipline. If Dan Carcillo gets suspended for butt-ending Maxime Talbot late in a game, Mike Komisarek should sit out after eye-gouging Matt Hunwick.

Which brings us to Game 4 of the Devils-Hurricanes series and Jussi Jokinen’s bump of Martin Brodeur before Carolina’s buzzer-beating, series-tying goal, series-tying goal. It was an unfortunate ending for New Jersey, but it was a valid ending. Had the point shot come as Jokinen and Brodeur collided, it would have been an easy goal to wave off. But Brodeur had time, albeit two seconds, to recover and make the save.

Alex Ovechkin is our choice for the best player on NHL ice right now (we might even put Pavel Datsyuk ahead of Sidney Crosby, but that’s an offseason conversation). The Capitals left wing is showing off some leadership skills this postseason as well, which only increases our respect for/man crush on. However, he may want to pick his motivational tricks a little bit better. Sitting on the bench during the Rangers’ Game 3 morning skate was cool. His postgame, on-ice chest bump with Nicklas Backstrom was not. You had just won back some of the momentum in the series. Why gives the Blueshirts something to rally around?

Jose Theodore will make $4.5 million next season to be the Capitals’ backup goalie. We thought the quick move to Simeon Varlamov was a mistake at first, but the young Russian has already earned the 2009-10 starting job.

Let’s call this the Rangers-Ducks theorem. If you are a road team and win the first two games of a series, Game 3 is a must-win. Losing the third game on your home ice puts you on the defensive for the rest of the series. Initially, you find yourself in Game 4 fighting to keep your advantage. You could then be back on the road even at two games apiece, with the likelihood of a third victory away from home very unlikely. The luxury of a Game 6 at home still exists, but you are either fighting to avoid a road finale or to keep yourself alive. Simply put, as an underdog, you cannot take your paw off your foe’s throat once it’s there.

We’ve defended Sean Avery more than once in this space, but he is making it harder and harder to support him these days. His slash/high-stick of Washington’s Brian Pothier in the final minutes of Game 3 Wednesday is inexcusable. Avery is at his best straddling the line between aggressive and reckless, but he is skewing too far to the reckless side now. He simply cannot put his team down a man against Ovechkin and the Capital power-play in a must-win game.

San Jose may win Thursday night to even it series with Anaheim, but it will not advance to round two. We’ve been waiting since October to see how these new Sharks will handle the playoff pressure-cooker. And what do they do? Loose consecutive home games to the Ducks, making Jonas Hiller look like Ken Dryden in the process. Why should we believe in this team?

Our current Shark stance is a departure from our Western Conference playoff preview – as is the next nugget. The Canucks are capable of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. We already knew how good Roberto Luongo is, but the Sedin twins are locked in right now. And Alex Burrows should be one of your favorite players in the League. If Mats Sundin can fight through his hip and stay on the ice, Vancouver will be a tough out for someone in the conference finals.

The Canucks swept the Blues in the opening round, which proves our second theory of the week: it’s not worth making a major late-season run to reach the playoffs. You expend too much energy just to make the tournament, leaving little for your first opponent.

It’s only three games, but the Chris Osgood doubters can quiet down for now. The regular season was a roller coaster, but round one has been a steamroller for the veteran Red Wing netminder. So far against Columbus, Osgood has stopped 76 of 78 shots.

And the Flames may not advance to round two, but will succeed in leaving the Blackhawks with little physically for their next opponent. Historically, recent Calgary playoff opponents have not fared well after moving on, and Chicago might not be any different. This young team is getting a major crash course in playoff hockey.

As always, please send any thoughts, comments, criticisms to boguschhockey@gmail.com